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Brazil brings lawsuit against Samsung
August 15, 2013, 5:27 pm

Brazil’s labor prosecutors  have lodged a lawsuit on Wednesday against South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co. for harsh working conditions.

The prosecutors are demanding 250 million Brazilian reais ($108 million) in compensation.

Samsung’s employees in the Manaus Free Economic Zone in northwest Brazil have complained of long-standing labor right violations.

In a statement, Samsung said it was willing to cooperate with the Brazilian authorities to offer “a working environment that guarantees the highest industrial standards on safety, health and well being.”

Employees at Samsung’s plant in the Manaus region have reported health issues rising out of working standing up for up to 10 hours and muscular-skeletal injuries.

Samsung had

Samsung’s employees in the Manaus Free Economic Zone in northwest Brazil have complained of long-standing labor right violations [Xinhua]

Samsung’s employees in the Manaus Free Economic Zone in northwest Brazil have complained of long-standing labor right violations [Xinhua]

received but ignored 162 citations on lack of safety standards and poor workplace conditions since 1996, alleges the lawsuit.

In 2012, Samsung was informed of 2,018 cases of employees who had to suspend working due to worsening health conditions including muscular-skeletal injuries.

A Labor Ministry probe report states that employees at the plant had to assemble a television set in 65 seconds, which requires between 87 and 96 limb movements per minute exceeding safe medical limits.

The ministry is now demanding Samsung to provide employees with a 10-minute break after every working hour, and new workstations for workers allowing them to work sitting down.

 

Source: Agencies